"Wisteria Lane" to Reimagine Hit ABC Series "Desperate Housewives" at Onyx Collective
The series was reportedly pitched to both Onyx and Hulu Originals
Reports indicate that a reimagining of the hit ABC series, Desperate Housewives, is underway at Onyx Collective, with Wisteria Lane being the first real attempt at a revival of the series after over a decade of rumors.
What’s Happening:
- A reimagining of the smash hit ABC series, Desperate Housewives, is reportedly underway at Onyx Collective, from Kerry Washington’s Simpson Street and 20th Television.
- The reimagining, tentatively titled Wisteria Lane, is being described as fun, sexy, darkly comedic soap/mystery in the vein of the original series, and is being written by The Flight Attendant’s Natalie Chaidez.
- Similar to the original, the story is set among a group of five very different friends and sometimes frenemies who all live on a picture-perfect cul de sac called “Wisteria Lane." On the surface, all the Wisteria neighbors are living the dream: beautiful homes, gorgeous families, shiny SUVs in the driveway. But behind those white-picket fences and smiling Insta posts are secrets.
- Chaidez is set to executive produce alongside Washington and Pilar Savone via their Simpson Street as well as Stacey Sher (Into the Badlands) through her Shiny Penny. 20th TV is producing, as they recently absorbed the original’s studio, which would come to be known as ABC Signature.
- According to sources who told Deadline, Original Desperate Housewives creator/ep Marc Cherry was not part of the pitch but is aware of the project and could be involved in some capacity.
- According to that same report, Wisteria Lane was pitched to both Onyx and Hulu Originals - the latter of which already has other reboot series in the works from 20th TV, including reboots of Prison Break and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Washington and Savone both have an existing relationship at both Disney-owned units, with Simpson Street behind Onyx’s most successful series - Reasonable Doubt - which has been renewed for a third season. They are also behind the comedy series UnPrisoned, starring Washington. At Hulu, Simpson Street and Hello Sunshine are behind the acclaimed limited series, Little Fires Everywhere, which also starred Washington.
- The news of Wisteria Lane comes shortly after the 20th anniversary of the original Desperate Housewives last October, which brought an onslaught of nostalgia and hopeful reboot wishes - though rumors of a reboot, sequel, revival, or other kind of media offshoot have been talked about for well over a decade. Wisteria Lane marks the first real attempt at expanding the franchise.
- The original Desperate Housewives starred Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and, for the first five seasons, Nicollette Sheridan as five women - mostly friends - living on Wisteria Lane, who begin uncovering dark secrets after their neighbor Mary Alice Young kills herself.
- According to the report, there are no plans at this time for anyone in the original series to return.
- Fans of Universal Studios Hollywood will be sure to remind you that Wisteria Lane is physically located on the backlot of the iconic studio, having been used for decades before and since as a prominent filming location. However, it is unclear at this time if Wisteria Lane will continue to use the Los Angeles location where the original set is, or move on to someplace new.
- No timeline for production or debut for the new series has been revealed at this time.
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